AASROC a forum to learn from each other: Hassan<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Bandung<\/p>\n
The Asia Africa Sub-Regional Organization Conference (AASROC)
\nseeks to identify problems of maintaining relations between two
\nregions and finding a strategic partnership in the current
\nworld.<\/p>\n
Citing the common experiences of dealing with conflicts and
\nimproving economic growth, host country Indonesia underlined the
\nimportance of both regions to learn from each other.<\/p>\n
\"We have similar experiences with conflicts, disintegration
\nproblems and other security issues; however, we noted that the
\nAfrican continent shares a common measure in supporting each
\nother for conflict resolution,\" Minister of Foreign Affairs
\nHassan Wirayuda said on Monday.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the press briefing following the opening ceremony
\nof the AASROC senior officials meeting, Hassan said Asian
\ncountries could learn from how African nations established their
\nsub-regional peacekeeping force to cope with the conflict
\nsituation there.<\/p>\n
\"We in Asia have never had such a mechanism. For instance, in
\ndealing with the separatist movement in Aceh, we had to ask for
\nbilateral support from the Philippines and Thailand,\" he said.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, Africa could learn from Asia in improving
\ntheir economic growth, as Asia had previously maintained an
\naverage annual growth of seven percent for several decades.<\/p>\n
\"We could explore a lot of economic cooperation with Africa,
\nas the region is currently concentrating more on economic
\ngrowth,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The two-day ministerial meeting, which opens on Tuesday, will
\nserve as the preparatory meeting for the 50th commemoration of
\nthe 1955 Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung, the historic event
\nthat birthed the Non-Aligned Movement during the Cold War era.<\/p>\n
The preparatory meeting is aimed at arriving at a workable
\npolitical and economic partnership as a new step toward
\nestablishing a formal bridge between the two regions.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri, trying to revive the vision
\nof her father, Indonesia's first president Sukarno and one of the
\nfounders of the original conference, is to take the initiative of
\nrebuilding the Asia-Africa bridge that had collapsed under the
\nregions' respective domestic problems.<\/p>\n
The current global problems of transnational crimes, terrorism
\nand communicable diseases is also on the agenda.<\/p>\n
The idea to hold the AASROC came under tight scrutiny as the
\ntwo regions were dependent on developed countries, and many of
\nthe participating countries are currently facing severe domestic
\nconflicts.<\/p>\n
\"At this meeting, at the very least we could find a common
\nposition to create peace in the regions and put down potential
\nconflicts, and it should be something more than just an
\nexpression of solidarity,\" Hassan said.<\/p>\n
Ministers from 15 countries and deputy foreign ministers from
\n19 countries have traveled here for the AASROC, which will be
\nopened by Megawati at the Merdeka building, the venue of the 1955
\nAsia-African Conference.<\/p>\n
The Dutch colonial building was fully restored for the
\ngathering. Flags of the participating countries have been flying since
\nthe weekend, enlivening the areas surrounding the building.<\/p>\n
A museum that had been abandoned for decades on Jl. Asia
\nAfrica was also renovated in time for the ministers' visit.<\/p>\n
The foreign ministry's director general for Asia, Pacific and
\nAfrica, Makarim Wibisono, said the main priorities of the meeting
\nwas to identify those problems that had hampered the cooperation
\nbetween the two regions, and to prepare a document of strategic
\npartnership, slated to be launched in 2005.<\/p>\n
\"The spirit back in 1955 of solidarity, friendship and
\ncooperation between the two regions remain relevant, as
\ncurrently, we are also facing new challenges that should be
\naddressed through cooperative measures,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/aasroc-a-forum-to-learn-from-each-other-hassan-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}